Severe Plasmodium vivax cerebral malaria complicated by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis treated with artesunate and doxycycline

Publication date: March 2018Source: Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy, Volume 11, Issue 1Author(s): Sawsan Amireh, Hamid Shaaban, Gunwant GuronAbstractMalaria-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare, potentially fatal, hyperinflammatory disease entity which can be challenging to diagnose and treat. It is usually associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection. It is less frequently associated with Plasmodium vivax. Here we report an unusual case of a 23-year-old healthy Nigerian man who presented with fever, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, acute renal failure, and confusion, and was diagnosed as having cerebral malaria-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis caused by P. vivax infection. He was successfully treated with intravenous artesunate and doxycycline with dramatic clinical improvement.
Source: Hematology Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research